Page 70 of Cage of Darkness
“This town doesn’t have thenecessary resources to protect you. I want you behind the palacewalls where Russek can’t touch you.”
“It’s good to see youalive, Prince Odar,” one of the soldiers said. “We’d heard rumorsyou’d been killed.”
Odar gave the signal, and their smallgroup started riding out of the town. “I am alive and well,” heanswered. “It’s time my parents’ worries are put torest.”
“Excuse me,” Allyssa said.“Where did the Russek soldiers who were in the valley due west ofhere go?”
“They packed up and lefttwo days ago.” The man did not address her by her title, whichmeant he didn’t know her identity.
“Do you think it meansPrince Kerdan was successful?” she quietly asked Odar.
“Possibly,” he replied. “Orthe king could be consolidating resources to prepare for an all-outinvasion into Emperion. We won’t know for sure until we reach thepalace.”
She decided not to ask how long thejourney would take because, no matter what, it would be too longfor her.
She swayed on the horse, a wave ofdizziness overcoming her. After a healer and some rest, then shewould be fine.
“Don’t worry,” he assuredher. “I’ll have my most proficient men guard you at all times. Iwill not allow Russek to get their hands on you again. I swearit.”
Her current state was due to herinjuries, not a fear for being recaptured and taken back to Russek.Forcing a laugh, she answered, “Keeping me behind the palace walls,guarded at all times, can’t ensure my safety. There will always berisks. Back in Emperion, the assassin managed to dance with meduring the ball when security was at its highest. I’ll never betruly safe. You can’t lock me in a cage and try to protect me fromeverything. It’s not possible.” She forced a smile, trying toreassure him.
His face paled. He kept his focus onthe road ahead of them, not looking her way. “We’ll discuss thislater,” he curtly replied before nudging his horse into a fastercanter.
An odd feeling of being off-kilterfilled her. Didn’t he love her for who she was? She didn’t thinkshe could handle it if he tried to stifle her. In Fren, women weretreated differently than they were in Emperion. They couldn’t jointhe army, farm, or tend to the land. Surely Odar didn’t expect herto be docile and hide away. That wasn’t who she was. And after herexperience in Russek, she had no intention of being locked away ina cage ever again.
***
The prince set a relentless pace.Traveling on roads, they covered far more territory than before.One night when they stopped to sleep, Odar sent one of his men to anearby town to procure medicine for Allyssa. He returned a shortwhile later with several herbs for her to ingest. He also had newsfrom the soldiers stationed there. Official word came from the kingand queen of Fren that the Russek soldiers had retreated and nolonger posed an imminent threat.
Odar thanked him and sat next toAllyssa. “We need to talk.”
“I heard what the man said.That is good news indeed.” A fever had set in, and she couldn’tstop shaking, no matter how many cloaks and blankets were drapedover her. She prayed the herbs started working soon.
“It appears war no longerlooms over our heads,” he said, tossing a stick into the cracklingfire before them.
“Yes. However, I think itwise to hear what your parents have to say before we get our hopesup. Like you said, the Russeks may have retreated along your borderto concentrate their attack elsewhere.” She wrapped her arms aroundher body, willing the shaking to stop.
He nodded. “Try and get some sleep.”Moving to the other side of the fire, he laid down, his back toher.
His words played over andover in her mind.War no longer looms overour heads.If they managed to avoid a war,then why was she filled with a sense of dread instead of relief?Why did she have a feeling something was terribly wrong?
Chapter Twenty-Five
Over the next couple of days, theyrode hard and fast, camping nightly under the stars. Odar rarelyspoke to Allyssa despite having ample opportunities to do so. Shehad the distinct impression that he was purposefully building awall between them, and she had no idea why.
War no longer looms overour heads.
What she’d seen of the Frencountryside was beautiful—small streams teeming with fish, low,rolling green hills dotted with goats, several farms withhealthy-looking animals. The air was cool and the sky cloudy, butno hint of snow. She continued to take the herbs, which helped keepthe pain at bay.
Lying on the moss-covered groundbeside the fire, she tried to warm up. She reached down andgingerly felt her ribs. One seemed as if it protruded more thanyesterday. Earlier, when she had a moment of privacy to relieveherself, she’d pulled up her shirt and discovered that the entireright side of her ribcage had turned an ugly shade of black. Thecut on her arm still bled on occasion and had to be rewrappeddaily. Thankfully, she’d be in the palace tomorrow, where skilledhealers could tend to her. And a bed—she’d finally have a soft bedto sleep in instead of the hard ground.
Her body started shakinguncontrollably. Sweat coated her skin, but it felt as if she werecovered with snow. If she could just get warm, she’d feel so muchbetter.
“Are you all right?” Odarasked, suddenly at her side.
Does he have threeheads?She squeezed her eyes shut, tryingto pull herself together. When she opened them again, he wasblurry.
“Allyssa?” He placed hishand on her forehead. “You’re burning up.” He jumped to his feetand addressed his men. “We can’t wait until tomorrow. We must reachthe palace tonight.”
